Tobacco-plant setter



(No Model.)

' J. B. MITOHUM.

TOBACCO PLANT SETTER. No. 334,029. Patented Jan. 12, 1886. T? 53 T a- EB-5- V \A/i J 55E5: l'pk/ TERI ohm sxmwk i f$d MW,

N. PETERS, Phmmm m Washington a c.

NITEDT STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MITOHUM, OF MUNFORDVILLE, KENTUCKY.

TOBACCO=PLANT SETTE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,029, dated January 12, 1886.

Application filed June 29, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHNB. MITCHUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Munfordville, in the county of Hart and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Plant Setters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of the plant-setter. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section thereof, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof in a plane indicated by the line 4 at in Fig. 1.

The machine consists of a stationary beam, A, and a verticallymovable beam,'B. The movable beam moves in staples a a, fixed to the stationary beam, which staples embrace diminished sections b b of the movable beam. The shoulders c 0, formed between the diminished sections 12 b and themain body of the beam B, limit the vertical movement of the movable beam in both directions. The beam B is held in a normally-elevated position by means of a suitable retracting-spring, which is shown'to consist of an elastic band, C, which is held in a groove, d, cut in the inner side of the beam A, and is secured at opposite ends to the beams A and B, respectively. At their upper ends each beam is formed with a handle, e, and at their lower ends the stationary beam is formed with a broad base, while the movable beam is formed with a sharp taper point, f, which is preferably sheathed with metal. Pivotally secured at its upper end to the stationary beam, near the lower end thereof, is an arm, D. The lower end of this arm is normally held away from the beam A byan interposed spring, G. The lower end of the arm D is moved toward the beam A by means of a wire, E, attached to the inner side of the 'arm D, which extends through an aperture, h,

Serial No. 170,084. (No model.)

the ground, the pointed and movable beam is forced downward into the ground by pressure on its handle 6. On the pressure being removed the retracting-spring O restores the movable beam to its normal position, thus withdrawing it from the earth and leaving a hole therein. The device is then placed over the root of the tobacco-plant, so that the root may be between the lower ends of the stationary beam and the arm D. Then by raising the wire E by means of the hookj the lower end of the arm D is brought toward the beam A, thus firmly grasping the root. In order not to injure the plant, the arm D may be padded on its inner face. When the root is firmly grasped, its end is inserted into the hole already formed. The movable beam B is then again depressed,thus pressing the earth against the root, and the setting of the plant is complete.

WVith this instrument the plants may be rapidly and effectually set without the necessity of constantly stooping over, as in setting by hand.

Although this instrument is especially designed for setting tobacco-plants, it is equally well adapted for any class of plants having the same shape of root.

I claim as my-invention 1. In a tobacco-plant setter, a stationary beam, in combination with an arm pivoted to the lower part of said beam, an interposed spring between said beam and arm, which holds said arm normally away from said beam, and a movable operating-wire secured to the inner face of said arm, substantially as set forth, whereby said arm may be moved toward said stationary beam.

2. In a tobaccoplant setter, a stationary beam and a movable beam pivoted at its lower end, which slides in guides on said stationary beam, in combination with an arm pivoted to said stationary beam, an interposed spring between said arm and stationary beam, and a movable wire secured to the inner face of said arm, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

hi JOHN B. MITCHUM.

mark.

Attest:

W. J. MAOY, H. A. WATKINS. 

